William hewitt



- (No Model.)

W. HEWITT,

. FIRE ESCAPE LADDER.

N0. 412,752. r Patented Oct. 15, 1889.

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UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HEWITT, OF LONDON, ONTARIO, oANADA.

FIRE-ESCAPE LAPDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 412,752, dated October 15, 1889. Application filed September 6, 1888. Serial No. 284,707. (No model.)

'object being to provide a device that willnot burn away, and one that will permit firemen to ascend to or occupants to descend from the upper parts of burning buildings when they cannot safely descend to the ground in any other way 5 and this invention consists of the improved construction and combination of parts of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings already mentioned, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fire-escape ladder embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same placed in position on a building. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 00 a: of Fig. 1.

The side bars of this ladder are formed ofshort lengths or links L, and these links are secured together by and pivoted on the rungs or steps R, which permit these links to be folded over on one another to occupy only a very small space when the ladder is not in use, and formed integral with the sides at the upper end are hooks H, for rigidly engaging the upper end of this ladder with and firmly securing it to a window-sill W in the side of the building B,as shown in Fig.2 of the accompanying drawings, or other suitable rigid support,

so that the full Weight of the ladder and its occupant will fall upon the hooks, and thus bind them securely to the sill, and the upper ends of each of these short lengths or links L are bent at about right angles thereto and form the arms or feet F, the outer ends of which feet F abut against the side of the building 13 to hold the rungs or steps R away from' it, so that persons may easily, safely, and instantly secure good foothold on said steps or rungs R when ascending or descending. In securing the ends of these links L together shoulders O are first formed on the rungs R by reducing the size of the ends of these rungs in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3, and then projecting this reduced end through suitable apertures in the side bars of the links L until they rest against one another and against the shoulders G. Then by swaging the outer end of the rung R over on the side bars of the link L and beyond the aperture through which the rung R extends the rung and the side bars are safely secured together.

At the same time the side bar may turn on the rung when wishing to fold them together. This forms a simple, strong, and durable ladder at a very small eXpense,'and one which may be used for various purposes for which a ladder is generally used other than that of a fire-escape ladder.

' Having thus described my invention, I

claim The combination,-wit-h the upper rung R of a ladder and the bent ends of the links L, connected thereby, of the side pieces loosely secured to the said rung and formed at their free ends with pointed hooks H integral therewith, which are adapted to be rigidly secured to the edge of the window-sill and be bound thereto by the full weight of the ladder and its occupant,-substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of the two undersigned witnesses.

WILLIAM HEWITT.

Witnesses:

P. J. EDMUNDS, A. EDMUNDs. 

